The Onion cited by homophobic vice mayor in Arizona to praise Fred Phelps.

The Onion’s slogan is “The most trusted name in news.” The irony is that The Onion is a satire news site, some would say obviously so. But to some people elected on the supposed ground of being at least equally as competent as his peers, The Onion may actually be the most trusted name in news.

Edward Farrell, vice mayor of Maricopa, posted a satirical obituary Monday morning of Phelps, who founded the virulently anti-LGBT Westboro Baptist Church, published by the fake news site The Onion, along with a comment of his own.

“We need more Fred Phelps in this world. May you rest in peace sir,” Farrell wrote, in response to the piece that satirically credited the pastor as the “man who forever stopped (the) march of gay rights.”

Phelps, who died March 19 at age 84, led the Kansas-based cult that picketed funerals with placards claiming “God hates f*gs” and blamed nearly everything on America’s tolerance of LGBT people.

Another Facebook user almost immediately asked Farrell if his comment was a joke.

“No, I’m not kidding!” Farrell replied,according to the Maricopa Monitor. “This world needs to get back to the biblical standards that our God made for us. This guy was not afraid to preach it, and I respect that.”

I can’t make this shit up.

Later it was pointed out to Farrell (by somebody better equipped to be vice mayor than he) that The Onion is a satire site and that Fred Phelps was a terrible, terrible person. Farrell then tried to walk back his comments. But why? Fred Phelps was all about biblical standards for sex and was not afraid to preach it.

We expect elected leaders to know about subjects before they comment on them. Thanks Edward Farrell for reminding us of the reality we actually live in. You’re not afraid to make strong, passionate, bold statements about people and things you clearly know nothing about. You are the American conservative dream.